A bicycle led signaling device for a bicycle includes a lighting module with at least one array of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a power source, an operation interface, and a controller connected to the power source and the operation interface to receive an operation command to control the led array to display a corresponding signal.
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1. An led signaling device for a bicycle, comprising:
at least one lighting module, each one of the at least one lighting module having a light-emitting diode (led) array mounted on a substrate, wherein the led array has multiple LEDs arranged in the form of an array, the led array including:
two V-shaped portions respectively located on left and right edges of the led array, each V-shaped portion having multiple LEDs, wherein the vertices of the two V-shaped display portions are directed to the left and right of the led array; and
a center line portion formed between the two V-shaped portions and having multiple LEDs;
a controller electrically connected to each led of the led array to control the led to be operated under an illumination mode or an unlit mode, wherein the illumination mode includes a first illumination state and a second illumination state, and the controller controls a value of a current flowing through the led array during the first illumination state to be lower than the value of the current flowing through the led array during the second illumination state, such that luminance of the LEDs of the led array lit at the first illumination state is darker than luminance of the LEDs of the led array lit at the second illumination state, and each led lit under the first illumination state and the second illumination state is selectively blinked;
a power module electrically connected to the led array and the controller; and
an operation interface electrically connected to the controller to output at least one operation command to the controller for the controller to drive the led array to generate at least one corresponding signal symbol independently or intermittently displayed at the same luminance level or alternatively displayed at different luminance levels, and the operation interface having a rocker switch for sending an operation command to the controller;
wherein a right end or a left end of the rocker switch is pressed to output a third corresponding operation command to the controller for the controller to control the led array to display a right-turn symbol taking a form of a right arrow with the V-shaped portion on the right and the center line portion of the led array operated under the second illumination state and the rest of the LEDs of the led array operated under the unlit mode or a left-turn symbol taking a form of a left arrow with the V-shaped portion on the left and the center line portion of the led array operated under the second illumination state and the rest of LEDs of the led array operated under the unlit mode on the led array.
2. The led signaling device as claimed in
3. The led signaling device as claimed in
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LED (Light emitting diode) signaling device for a bicycle and, more particularly, to an LED signaling device mounted on a bicycle to alert passerby or transportation tools in front or back of the bicycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bicycles have become an increasingly popular mid-distance and short-distance transportation tool and an exercise tool lately because of the eco-friendly nature thereof. However, just like any other transportation tools, the prevalence of bicycles brings forth escalating accident rate. People realize that cycling may put cyclists under the threat of injury or death as a result of accidents. Therefore, many bike manufacturers start focusing on improvement for bike safety, such as front wheel and rear wheel brakes, material and weight of bike frame, passive reflector, active signaling and flashing indicators and the like, to enhance the safety of cyclists upon cycling.
With reference to
An objective of the present invention is to provide an LED signaling device for a bicycle displaying simple and clear symbols to deliver multiple signaling messages to passerby and drivers of vehicles in the proximity of the bike for getting awareness of next move of the bike and sufficient response time, thereby effectively lowering the chance of bike accident.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the LED signaling device has at least one lighting module, a controller, a power module and an operation interface.
Each one of the at least one lighting module has a light-emitting diode (LED) array mounted on a substrate. The LED array has multiple LEDs arranged in the form of an array.
The controller is electrically connected to each LED of the LED array to control the LED to turn on or turn off.
The power module is electrically connected to the LED array and the controller.
The operation interface is electrically connected to the controller to output at least one operation command to the controller for the controller to drive the LED array to generate a corresponding signal symbol.
The advantages of the present invention reside in that the lighting module is mounted on the front and/or back of a bike, and when intending to send out a signaling message, a cyclist of the bike inputs an operation command to the controller through the operation interface for the controller to turn on/off each LED in the LED array. The controller can light up the LEDs in the LED array partially or wholly. The luminance differences among all lit LEDs in the LED array allows the LED array to generate a specific signal symbol for warning passerby and transportation tools off. Cyclists can output operation commands to the controller through the operation interface for the controller to control the LED array to display simple and clear signal symbols corresponding to the operation commands, such that passerby and drivers in the transportation tools in the proximity of the bike can be aware of the next move of the bike earlier to effectively lower the chance of bike accident.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
Each one of the at least one lighting module 30 has a light-emitting diode (LED) array 31 electrically connected to the controller 20 and the power module 10. The controller 20 is connected to the operation interface 40 and the power module 10 to control the LED array 31 of the lighting module 30 to turn on or turn off. With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
When physically implemented, the controller 20 receives at least one operation command inputted from the operation interface 40 and electrically connects a part of LEDs in the LED array 31 to the power module 10 to light up the part of LEDs under an illumination mode according to the at least one operation command. The two illumination mode includes a first illumination state and a second illumination state. The controller 20 controls a value of a current flowing through the LED array 31 during the first illumination state to be lower than the value of the current flowing through the LED array 31 during the second illumination state. Hence, luminance of the LEDs of the LED array 31 lit at the first illumination state is darker than that of the LEDs of the LED array 31 lit at the second illumination state. Meanwhile, the controller 20 disconnects the remaining LEDs in the LED array 31 from the power module 10 to exhibit the remaining LEDs under an unlit mode. To human eyes, varying luminance differences among the LEDs of the LED array 31 allows the LED array 31 to generate a specific signal pattern.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The rocker switch 41, the brake lever 42, the emergency or standing button 43 and the night light button 44 can be independently operated and randomly combined for simultaneous operation for the LED arrays 31 of the lighting modules 30 to display the overlapped symbols and exhibit a combined signal effect. Alternatively, all symbols generated in a random and combined operation can be intermittently and alternately displayed in a blinking fashion.
In sum, the present invention allows cyclists to output multiple operation commands to the controller 20 through the operation interface 40 for the controller 20 to control the LED arrays 31 of the lighting modules 30 in generation of multiple simple and clear signal symbols. Accordingly, passerby and drivers of transportation tools in the proximity of the bike can anticipate next move of the bike to prevent the chance of accident with enough time such that the possibility of bike accident can be effectively reduced.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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